Zuni Pueblo Sterling Silver Butterfly Pin

ca. 1950

1.5" H x 1.5" W

Hand Crafted from Sterling Silver with Inlaid Mother of Pearl, Jet and Turquoise Stones

In Very Good Condition

Zuni Pueblo sterling silver butterfly pins (often called brooches or pin/pendants) are a classic form of Native American jewelry from the Zuni people in New Mexico. Zuni artisans are renowned for their intricate stone-inlay work (channel or mosaic inlay), where precisely cut pieces of turquoise, coral, jet, mother of pearl, shell, and sometimes other materials like gaspeite or spiny oyster are set into sterling silver to form detailed designs.

The butterfly motif symbolizes transformation, balance, beauty, and grace in Pueblo cultures. These pieces are frequently dual-purpose: worn as a brooch with a pin backing or as a pendant with a bail for a chain/necklace. Vintage examples (1930s–1950s) can feature pioneering artists like Leo Pablano, while contemporary ones come from families like Ahiyite, Pinto, Edaakie, or Haloo.

Provenance:  From the Len and Toni Wood Private Collection, Laguna Beach, California